Glider construction



July 24, 1962 M, PEARLSflNE 3,046,053

GLIDER CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 21, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR.

MORTON PEBRL'ETINE' 3,945,053 GlimElll CGNSTRUCTION Morton Pearlstine, Bala-(Iynwyd, Pa, assignor to The Hunting Company, inn, Philadelphia, Pa, :1 corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Get. 21, 196i), Ser. No. 64,122 7 (Jlaims. (Ql. 297-344) This invention relates to sitting furniture, and more particularly relates to sitting furniture of the glider type as disclosed in my earlier filed co-pending applications for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 34,252, filed lune 6, 1960, and Serial No. 748,889, filed July 16, 1958, now Patent No. 2,959,210, issued November 8, 1960 the instant application being a continuation-in-part thereof and representing an improvement thereover in certain particulars. Gliders are characterized by their ability to oscillate with a generally forward and backward gliding motion under the control of an occupant of the glider seat, such motion giving rise to the generic name glider.

In the past, various types of so-called gliders have been devised which provide a motion more nearly like that of a swing than that of a true glider but which nevertheless are classed as gliders. Generally, these devices include a stand which rests on the floor and from which is freely suspended by pivoted vertical hangers a seat of some kind. As the seat is moved back and forth by the occupant it rises and falls much in the manner of a pendulum. Moreover, because of the hanger suspension system, an appreciable undesirable side-sway usually occurs unless the fore and back motion is restricted. The combined pendulum motion and side-sway is generally unpleasant and is sometimes unsettling to the stomach. Also annoying is the tendency of the seat to knock against the stand when the glider is being operated which causes the seat to twist and shudder. My invention differs from these socalled gliders in that it is not subject to the shortcomings hereinbefore described, but is in fact a true glider and not a modified swing.

The glider mechanism according to the invention utilizes a pair of horizontally extending parallel tracks spaced vertically one above the other and separated by a pair of intervening ball bearings. As the glider is shifted fore and aft, it is desired that the ball bearings roll forward and backward between the tracks while maintaining a constant interball spacing. it has been found that after a period of extended use there may occur a noticeable change in the interball spacing in the form of the invention disclosed in my earlier filed application, Serial No. 748,889. This condition is, of course, undesirable since it tends to decrease the at rest stability of the glider. The present invention is directed toward elimination of this condition by providing relatively simple, but highly effective, means for insuring the constancy of the interball spacing. Accordingly, it is a principal object of my invention to provide a novel glider whose seat motion is characterized by being rectilinear in the fore and back direction.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel glider which is free of side-sway during use.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel glider which has no tendency to impart a twisting motion to the seat when the latter is in motion.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a novel glider which has a stable rest position from which the seat does not tend to wander unless urged by an occupant.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel glider which employs a pair of vertically separated parallel extending tracks disposed at each side of the glider and upon which the glider travels fore and aft, the upper atent @fiee WW3 Patented duly 2d, 1962 and lower tracks of each pair being interfitted with one another to prevent vertical separation thereof when the entire glider is lifted and carried from one place to another.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a novel glider which utilizes ball bearings spaced apart longitudinally along the length of, and disposed between, a pair of vertically separated parallel extending tracks, and the provision of novel means for maintaining constant the spacing between the ball bearings.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will become clear from a reading of the following specification in conjunction with an examination of the several drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a multiple seat glider constructed according to and embodying the principles of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the glider of FIG- URE 1 illustrating the seat in rearward displaced position;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective View of the improved gliding mechanism according to the invennon;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmented side section view of the improved gliding mechanism illustrating the ballbearing support for the seat frame;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of the improved glider mechanism taken along the lines 55 of FIGUR l; and

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of the improved glider mechanism taken along the lines 66 of FIG- URE 1.

in the several figures, like elements are identified by the same reference numerals.

Turning now to a consideration of FIGURES l, 2 and 4 for a general understanding of the glider structure and manner of operation, it Will be seen that the glider consists essentially of three major types of functional unit. The first functional unit includes a back-rest assembly in and a pair of side frame and armrest assemblies ll secured to a seat assembly 12. The second functional unit consists of a pair of double track assemblies 13, which assemblies include a pair of floor engaging lower track sections 14- and a pair of upper track sections 15, to which latter sections the side frames ll of the first unit are secured by the bolt assemblies 29'. A pair of double ball bearings 16 between the upper and lower track sections of each double track assembly 13 provide a low friction translation bearing which permits relative fore and aft motion of the upper track sections 15 relative to the lower track sections 14. Since the side frames 11 of the first unit are rigidly secured to the upper track sections 15 of the second unit, the first unit will, of course, travel with the upper tracks 15 as they move fore and aft. The third functional unit consists of a pair of linkages 18 rigidly secured at their upper ends to the seat assembly 12 and side frame assemblies 11 of the first unit by an eye bolt 19, and pivotally secured at their lower ends to the lower track section 14 of the second functional units by yokes 20. The eye bolt 19 and yoke 2d are intercoupled by an extensible spring .21.

In operation, the first functional unit and the upper track sections 15 ride back and forth on the ball bearings 16 which roll on the bottom track sections 14 along a straight-line path, thus accomplishing the objects of eliminating the undesirable pendulum swing motion, sidesway, and twisting motion previously described. The linkages 18 operate to provide a stable centered rest position from which the seat does not tend to wander unless urged by an occupant. As the seat moves either backward or forward from its at-rest position illustrated in FIGURE 1, the spring 21 of the linkage is stretched and, therefore, exerts a restoring force which tends to pull the seat back to the centered at-rest position. FIG- URE 2 illustrates a backward displaced condition of the seat, and it is readily seen that the yoke 20 has tilted backwards in response to the pull of the stretched spring 21.

For a clear understanding of the constructional details of the invention turn now to a consideration of FIGURES 3, 4, 5 and 6. The cross-sectional views of FIGURES 5 and 6 show that the upper and lower track sections and 14 illustrated in the other figures preferably comprise a pair of cast or extruded members each of which is formed with a V-shaped groove extending substantially the entire length of each member, the grooved faces presenting vertically toward each other and held in spaced relation by the ball bearings 16. The V-shaped groove of the lower track 14 within which the ball bearings 16 roll is observed to comprise the central part of the track crown portion 22 which is generally of inverted W-shape. Somewhat inwardly offset from the side extremities of the inverted W crown portion and extending downward therefrom, are the track opposite side walls 23, the inward offset of which results in longitudinally extending opposite side wall shoulders 24 formed by the aforesaid crown portion side extremities. The inverted V-shaped groove of the upper track 15 is formed in the lower region of a central section 25, the upper surface of the central section being contoured to conformingly receive the lower run of the side frame 11. Extending laterally outward from the central section 25 and then turning downward are the upper track side Walls 27. These side walls 27 extend somewhat outward of and downward below the lower track shoulders 24 in spaced relation thereto and terminate at flanges 28 turned inward in underlying spaced relation to the shoulders 24. The flanges 28 cooperate with the shoulders 24 to prevent vertical separation of the tracks for example when the entire glider is lifted off of the floor for transportation to another location, and also cooperate with the lower track side walls 23 to prevent lateral shift and rotation of the tracks relative to one another. The upper track side walls 27 also protect and conceal from view the ball bearings and their associated structure.

As best seen in FIGURES 3 and 5, the yoke 20 of the link-age 18 is pivotallyhorizontally pinned to the lower track section 14 by the bolt assembly 30. The bolt assembly 30 includes the bushings 35, bolt 37 and nut 39. Assembly of the yoke 20 to the track 14 is carried out by projecting the bushings outward through the bushing holes 36 in the yoke 20, aligning the bolt-receiving holes 38 in the track 14 with the bores through the bushings 35, projecting the bolt 37 through the bushings and the track and securing the bolt end with the nut 39. The clearest view of the assembled yoke 20 and track 14 is illustrated in the showing of FIGURE 5, wherein it will be observed that the bushings 35, which are made of a low friction material, prevent metal-to-metal contact between the yoke and the track so that the yoke is freely pivotable on the bushings.

As pointed out hereinbefore, its has been found in the form of the invention disclosed in my earlier filed application, Serial No. 748,889 that after a period of extended use there may occur a noticeable change in the spacing between the ball bearings 16. This creep, or wandering, of one ball bearing relative to the other is believed to result from the difference in path length traversed by the ball bearing points of contact with the upper and lower tracks respectively, the contact points with the upper track traversing ashorter path than the contact points with the lower track because the upper track is straight while the lower track includes a pair of downcurved depressed regions. The ball bearings would, therefore, appear to roll on one track, and at certain points to slide on the other track for very small but finite distances, thereby resulting in a slight displacement.

The small displacements may aggregate over a period of time and result in the aforenoted relative shift between the ball bearings.

The elimination of this creep effect is achieved in the present invention by equalizing the path length traversed by the ball bearing points of contact with both tracks by making the ball bearing contacting track surfaces completely rectilinear, and by incorporating a ball bearing harness device which insures control of any long term residual creep effect due to incomplete symmetry of the tracks arising as a consequence of manfacturing tolerances. As will be seen, the harness device also acts as a ball bearing captive and motion limiting apparatus.

The harness device is seen in various aspects in the figures, a perspective view being shown in FIGURE 3 and sectional views being illustrated in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6. Referring first to FIGURE 3, the harness is observed to include a pair of generally elongated flat plate yoke members 40 each including a central portion 41 double apertured as at 43, so that the ball bearings 16 may project upward partially therethrough for rolling contact with the upper track 15. The yoke members 40 are coupled together in fixed spaced apart relation by means of the tie rod 44 whose opposite ends 45 are projected through holes in the proximate ends of the yokes and turned back upon themselves for securement. Freely surrounding the tie rod 44 and extending axially thereof is a compression coil spring 31 several loops of which carry a U-shaped clip 42 having out-turned tails 46.

As best seen in FIGURES 4-, 5 and 6, the diameter of the ball bearings 16 is somewhat larger than the diameter of the apertures 43 in the yoke members 40 so that the ball bearing cannot pass upward completely therethrough. Additionally, the compression spring 31 is observed to be disposed within the V-shaped groove of the lower track 14 and to be secured against shifting therein by the clip 42 which is projected downward through apertures 17 in the lower track and then turned outward at the ends to form the clip tails 46 which lock the clip and spring in place. The yoke 4t tie rod 44 and ball bearings 16 are thus held captive to the track 14 while at the same time being free to shift along the lower track.

Finally, the harness device and spring also provide a motion limiting effect which prevents the ball bearings 136 from riding longitudinally off the end of the lower track 14. The manner of achieving this result is most clearly seen in the showing of FIGURE 4, wherein it will be observed that continued right-directed travel of the yokes and ball bearings causes the front of the rear, or left hand, yoke 4h to engage the left-hand end of the compression spring 31. The spring, of course, compresses to accommodate the yoke, but also resists the yoke motion and eventually halts it. The spring thus provides a resilient cushioning effect and at the same time acts as a positive stop for the yoke which prevents the forward, or right hand, yoke 40 from running beyond the front edge of the lower track 14. The same mechanism obviously is operative in the reverse direction.

In the various figures, the parts illustrated may be made of any suitable materials. For example, the backrest frame 313, seat frame 33, side frame 11, and side frame tie-rods 34 may be made of wood or metal; the several parts of the linkages 18 and ball bearing harness devices are preferably made of metal, as are the parts of the upper and lower track assemblies; and the bushings 35 of the yoke bolt assembly '30 may be made of a suitable plastic material, as for example nylon.

It will be understood, of course, that the present invention is susceptible to various changes and modifications which may be made from time to time without departing from the real spirit or general principles thereof, and accordingly, it is intended to claim the same broadly, as well as specifically, as indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In a glider, in combination, a rigid superstructure including a seat and back rest unit, a pair of laterally spaced parallel tracks secured to the bottom of said superstructure and extending fore and aft thereof, a pair of floor-supported elongated tracks respectively disposed beneath and in substantial vertical registry with said superstructure tracks, plural revoluble bearing means interposed between and spaced apart along the length of each floorsupported track and its associated superstructure track for supporting said superstructure upon said floor supported tracks for gliding movement therealong in opposite directions from an at-rest position, said revoluble bearing means being free to move longitudinally of both tracks between which it is disposed when said tracks move longitudinally relative to each other, harness means intercoupling and carried by the spaced apart plural revoluble bearing means and shiftable therewith when said bearing means move longitudinally along said tracks including spacer means effective to maintain substantially constant the spacing between the intercoupled plural revoluble bearing means, and means holding said harness means and plural revolu- 'ble bearing means captive to the said floor supported tracks eifective to prevent the bearing means from being displaced out of said tracks while simultaneously permitting unrestricted shifting motion of said harness and bearing means within predetermined limits lengthwise of said tracks.

2. In a glider, in combination, a rigid superstructure including a seat and back rest unit, a pair of laterally spaced parallel tracks secured to the bottom of said superstructure and extending fore and aft thereof, a pair of floor-supported elongated tracks respectively disposed beneath and in substantial vertical registry with said superstructure tracks, plural revoluble bearing means interposed between and spaced apart along the length of each floor-supported track and its associated superstructure track for supporting said superstructure upon said floor supported tracks for gliding movement therealong in opposite directions from an at-rest position, said revoluble bearing means being free to move longitudinally of both tracks between which it is disposed when said tracks move longitudinally relative to each other, harness means intercoupling and carried by the spaced apart plural revoluble bearing means and shiftable therewith when said bearing means move longitudinally along said tracks including spacer means effective to maintain substantially constant the spacing between the intercoupled plural revoluble hearing means, and resilient means holding said harness means and plural revoluble bearing means captive to the said floor supported tracks effective to prevent the bearing means from being displaced out of said tracks while simultaneously permitting unrestricted shifting motion of said harness and bearing means within predetermined limits lengthwise of said tracks.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said revoluble bearing means comprise ball bearings and each said superstructure track and associated floor-supported track is formed with a V-shaped groove extending substantially the entire length thereof, the V-shaped groove of the superstructure track being of inverted form so that the grooved track faces present vertically toward each other and are held in vertically spaced relation by the intervening 'ball bearings, the floor supported track having longitudinally extending side walls disposed on opposite sides of the V-shaped groove and including laterally outwardly offset shoulder formations, the superstructure track having longitudinally extending side walls disposed on opposite sides of the inverted V-shaped groove which extend laterally outward of and downward below the aforesaid fioor supported track shoulder formations and terminate in inturned flanges disposed in underlying spaced relation to the said shoulder formations.

4. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said harness means includes a pair of apertured flat plates oriented in substantially horizontal planes, wherein said revoluble bearing means project through the apertures in said plates and extend above and below said plates in direct engagement respectively with said superstructure tracks and floor supported tracks, said plates being spaced apart along the track length a distance determined by the spacing between the said revoluble bearing means, and said harness spacer means comprising a tie rod extending between and secured to said apertured plates.

5. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said resilient means holding said harness'and bearing means captive to the said floor supported tracks comprises a compression coil spring disposed freely about said harness spacer means with the latter free to shift therethrough and anchoring means for securing at least one loop of said coil spring to said floor supported tracks, said harness means including bearing captive means couple-d to said harness spacer means at opposite ends of said coil spring, said bearing captive means being engageable with and disengageable from opposite ends of said coil spring as said harness means reciprocates longitudinally along said track from an extreme forward position to an extreme rearward position, said coil spring being placed in compression when engaged by said bearing captive means and etfective to smoothly exert an increasing resistance to continued motion of said captive means in the same direction.

6. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said resilient means holding said harness and bearing means captive to the said floor supported tracks comprises a compression coil spring disposed freely about at least a portion of the length of said harness spacer tie rod with the latter free to shift longitudinally therethrough, and anchoring means for securing at least one loop of said coil spring to said floor supported track, said apertured flat plates through which said revoluble bearing means are projected being wider than the diameter of said coil spring, whereby said plates are engageable with the ends of said coil spring and are effective to compress the spring but cannot pass therethrough.

7. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said revoluble bearing means comprise ball bearings and each said superstructure track and associated floor-supported track is formed with a V-shaped groove extending substantially the entire length thereof, the V shaped groove of the superstructure track being of inverted form so that the grooved faces of the tracks present vertically toward each other and are held in vertically spaced relation by the intervening ball bearings, the floor supported track having longitudinally extending side walls disposed on opposite sides of the V-shaped groove and including laterally outwardly offset shoulder formations, the superstructure tr-ack having longitudinally extending side walls disposed on opposite sides of the inverted J-shaped groove which extend laterally outward of and downward below the aforesaid floor supported track shoulder formations and terminate in inturned flanges disposed in underlying spaced relation to the said shoulder formations, said compression coil spring being disposed lengthwise within the V-shaped groove of the floor supported track.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 415,058 Phillips Nov. 12, 1889 2,579,597 Moroney Dec. 25, 1951 2,606,090 Straubel Aug. 5, 1952 2,667,912 McCormick Feb. 2, 1954 2,715,433 Dolgorukov Aug. 16, 1955 2,801,887 Gussack Aug. 6, 1957 2,833,598 Sloyan May 6, 1958 2,850,073 Smith Sept. 2, 1958 2,917,350 Ragsdale Dec. 5, 1959 2,959,210 Pearlstine Nov. 8, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 466,225 Great Britain May 25, 1937 

